FULTON - Members of Itawamba Community College's women's basketball team participated in the college's Operation Christmas Child project on Wednesday by preparing and delivering shoe boxes, which will be sent to children around the world.
In 1993, humanitarian aid organization Samaritan's Purse started the Operation Christmas Child campaign, which provides the opportunity to pack the shoe boxes with simple gifts and a letter of encouragement. To date, more than 209 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
The Lady Indians took time between classes and practice to pack shoeboxes for this project and deliver them to ICC instructor Dr. Laurie McBride project liaison.
"I think it's great that (the women's basketball team) is helping, because we need 130 boxes," McBride said. "I heard an interview of a recipient and he got a yellow car, and he had been playing with shoes and little pieces of wood. They've never seen toys before. And so this means the world to them, and in many cases, it changes their lives. Thank you, the women's basketball team."
Lady Indian Allie Beckley of Pontotoc said that it feels good to do her part in making a child's Christmas special. "It's awesome to just be a blessing to somebody else."
Teammate Katie Beth Hall of New Albany agreed. "It means a lot, especially doing it with my team, to give back to the less fortunate."
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